Selective phonograph controller



y 1951 L. .1. ANDRES 2,551,522

SELECTIVE PHONOGRAPH CONTROLLER Filed April 23, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mull? mull? mull! mull;

j INV EN TOR.

ay 1, 1951 L. J. ANDRES SELECTIVE PHGNOGRAFH CONTROLLER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 23, 1947 INVENTOR.

y 1951 L. J. ANDRES 2,551,522

SELECTIVE PHONOGRAPH CONTROLLER Filed April 25, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTIOR.

y 11951 L. J. ANDRES 2,551,522

SELECTIVE PHONOGRAPH CONTROLLER Filed April 23, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 5.5 67 1 L 55/5. 53 M4 i f 66 IN V EN TOR.

Patented May 1, 1951 SELECTIVE PHONOGRAPH CONTROLLER Lloyd J. Andres, Itasca, 111.

Application April 23, 1947, Serial No. 743,261

7 Claims.

This invention in general relates to electric remote control apparatus and more particularly to remote control devices for use with automatic phonographs and the like. Until recently automatic phonographs, particularly the coin controlled variety, had a maximum of twenty-four selections and remote control apparatus for controlling these phonographs necessarily included a maximum of twenty-four title strips showing the title of each selection together with a means for selecting one or more of the selections usually in the form of push buttons adjacent to corresponding title strips.

Recently automatic phonographs have become available having as many as forty selections, and as a result the conventional remote control devices would be excessively large for forty title strips and their corresponding push buttons. Furthermore, use of such devices would be confusing and laborious to the user.

This invention provides an electro-mechanical means whereby the remote control device for such phonograph need not be larger than previous devices and minimizes the confusion on the part of the user in selecting certain selections from a large repertoire. The provision of such means constitutes the principal object of the invention.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a plurality of reversible title holders for receiving title strips reversible in response to the movement of a. single manual control.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a plurality of reversible title holders havin a like plurality of electric control buttons positioned adjacent thereto including mechanical means for simultaneously reversing the said plurality of title holders and also operating an electric switching means for alternately energizing one of two electric circuits controlling the device to be operated.

These and other objects of one embodiment of the invention are described andshown in the followin description and drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective front view of a coin operated selective phonograph controller in which my invention is embodied.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional side elevation taken through section line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional plan view taken through section line 33, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional plan view taken through section line 4-4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional elevation taken through sectionline 571-5, Fig. .1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the title holders shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of one form of electric circuit for connecting the device shown in Fig. 1 to an electric responsive selective phonograph or the like.

Although this invention may be adaptedto a wide variety of uses, for simplification the de-..

scription will be limited to a conventional coin controlled device for operating an electric responsive automatic selective phonograph. Referring to Fig. l, a casing l is provided as a housing for the entire apparatus upon which a coin entry 2 is provided. A plurality of control buttons 34 are arranged in two vertical columns adjacent to windows 5 and 6, behind which are positioned a plurality of reversible title holders 18. The buttons 3-4 correspond to the title. holders 'l8 respectively. Program title change button 9 is provided to manually reverse the title holders 1-8 simultaneously when actuated.

Fig. 6 illustrates one of the title holders 1-8, on which two identical title retainers Ill-4| are secured to shaft l2 in back to back parallel relation. The title strips I3 are usually made of paper board, and a typical title strip is shown retained in one title retainer. Two perforated ears hi are provided in each retainer for frictionally holding the title strip in position. The shaft 12 is providedwith pivot bearings |5--|5 at each extremity for engagement with a frame to be hereinafter described. A pinion l6 integral with one end of the shaft I2 is provided for rotating the entire title holder. Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show ten title holders as shown in Fig. 6, mounted for parallel rotary operation by retainer brackets ll, which brackets are secured to the inside of the casing l by screws l8l8. Thus it is apparent that each title holder is capable of rotary motion about the axis of its pivot bearings I5l5. A rack member I9 is supported for vertical reciprocation by guide plates 2020 which are integral with one side of the brackets IT as shown in Fig. 2. The teeth of the rack l9 are engaged with the pinion [6 of each of the title holders. When the rack is reciprocated all of the program holders will accordingly rotate simultaneously.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, a jack shaft 2| is journaled for rotation in supports 22 and 23, which supports are secured to the bottom of casing I. An eight-position cam 24 is secured to the outer end of the jack shaft for engagement with detent roller 25, which roller is secured to lever 26 pivotall mounted to afixed support 21 by shoulder screw 28. The detent roller 25 is urged into peripheral contact with cam 24 by spring 29 having one end secured to the free end of lever 26 and its opposite end secured to stud 39 in casing l. The rack control lever 3| is pivoted at one end to support 21 by shoulder screw 32 and loosely connected to the lower end of rack I9 by shoulder screw 33. A roller 34 is secured by a stud on lever 3| for engagement with the periphery of the cam 24 as shown. An electric switch 35 is secured to the casing and has its operating lever positioned in the path of movement of the lower end of rack l9. A spring 36 having one end secured to bracket 20 and its opposite end secured to a projection 31 on the rack l9 normally urges the rack in downward direction.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, a toothed ratchet wheel 38 is integral with the inner end of jack shaft 2|. Support 23 secured to casing provides a slotted bearing for pawl 39 and also a bearing for the inner end of push button 9 as shown. A compression spring 40 bearing against upright 4| of support 23 and flange 42 of the button 9 normally urges the push button and the pawl 39 into the position shown, Fig. 5. It is apparent that when the push button 9 is depressed and returned, the jack shaft 2| will be rotated one-eighth of a revolution, or fortyfive degrees, by the return motion of pawl 39 under the influence of spring 49 when the button is permitted to return to its normal position.

Two columns of single pole double throw elec tric switches 43-44 positioned in casing I are responsive to independent operation of push buttons 3-4, projecting through the casing adjacent to the program titles.

Referring to Fig. '7, a conventional coin actuated electric add subtract credit device 45 is diagrammatically illustrated and its credit wheel 46 therein is intended to cause closing of a master switch 41-48 upon the deposit of a coin or coins. It is well known that credit devices of this kind respond in a number of movements corresponding to the number of coins deposited. A restore solenoid 49 and its armature '59 illustrate a typical means for subtracting units of credit from the credit Wheel when the remote control device is selectively operated. The dotted enclosure 5| represents two groups of electric responsive magnets 52-53 for initiating the selective play of the phonograph or like machine. Itwill become apparent that onlyone conductor running from the dotted enclosure to the remote control device is required for operating two different responsive magnets 5253.

Electric power is supplied to the primary of transformer 54 by conductor LI-LZ. One terminal of the secondary of transformer 54 is con-- nected to restore solenoid 49 by conductor 55. The remaining terminal of the restore solenoid 49 is connected to master switch blade 48 by conductor 56. A conductor 51 connects blade 41 of the master switch to blade 58 of the first push button operated switch 43. Blade 59 of switch 43 is connected by conductor 60 to blade 6| of the second push button switch 43. Blade 62 of the second switch is connected to blade 63 of the next push button switch by conductor 64. The blade 65 of the third push'button switch is connected by conductor 66 to the next consecutive switch not shown. Switch blade 81 of the first push button switch is connected by conductor 68 to one terminal of the first magnet 52 and one terminal of the first magnet 53. Blade 69 of the second switch is connected by conductor 10 to one terminal of the second magnet 52 and one terminal of the second magnet 53. Blade 1| of the third switch is connected by conductor 12 to one terminal of the third magnet 52 and one terminal of the third magnet 53.

The remaining terminals of the entire group of magnets 53 are connected by conductor 15 to blade 16 of control switch 35. The remaining terminals of magnets 52 are connected by conductor 13 to blade 14 of control switch 35. Blade 11 of control switch 35 is conneced by conductor 18 to the remaining secondary terminal of transformer 54. It is obvious that additional switches 43 and magnets 52 and 53 are connected in the same manner as previously described.

In operation, referring to Fig. l and assuming that two appropriate coins corresponding to two plays are deposited in the coin entry 2 and a particular selected button 3 is depressed, then referring to Fig. 7, two credits will be recorded on wheel 46 and the master switch 41-48 will close. Assuming that the first switch 43 is depressed a circuit will be established from transformer secondary 54 through conductor 18, control switch blades 16-11, through conductor 15, the first magnet 53, conductor 68, switch blades 51 and 58, conductor 51, master switch 41-48, conductor 56, restore solenoid 49, conductor 55 to the remaining side of the secondary of the transformer 54. Thus the magnet 53 will operate the phonograph for one play and the operation of the restore solenoid will remove one credit from the wheel 46.

Assuming that the user desires a program change, the button 9, Fig. l, is depressed and released. The ratchet wheel 38 shown in Fig. 5 will rotate forty-five degrees in a counterclockwise direction as shown by arrow, which rotation will move the cam 24, Fig. 2, forty-five degrees in the direction shown by arrow, which movement will raise lever 3| to its upper position as shown in dotted lines, Fig.2. The spring urged lever 26 and its roller 25 will serve to retain the cam in its changed position, whereas the lever 3| and its roller 34 serve as a detent for holding the cam in its previous position.

The movement of the cam will simultaneously move rack l9 upward to rotate all of the program holders 1-8, degrees and thus expose the rear titles to view. During this movement, the control switch 35 will have moved into changed position to that'shown in Fig. 7. Then assuming that the user depresses the same button 3 for a different selection, a circuit will be established from transformer secondary 54 through conductor 18, control switch blades 14-11, through conductor 13, through first magnet 52, through conductor 58. through push button switch blades 58-61, through conductor 51, through master switch 41-48, conductor 55, restore solenoid 49, through conductor 55 to the remaining terminal of transformer secondary 54. Thus it is apparent that the operation of the same push'button will operate two different selections corresponding to two different program titles adjacent to the push buttons. It is now clear that by using the same control buttons 3-4 and the program change'button 9, the user mayat will choose selected plays from a number of selections twice that of the number of push buttons 3-4.

Non coin operation may be accomplished by connecting conductor 55 to conductor 51 and eliminating the credit device 45, Fig. 7.

It will be apparent to those skilled in this art that the same title change mechanism and the control switch .means 35 may be adapted to change the coding of well known pulsing systems for controlling selective phonograph circuits since the control switch 35 could. obviously control the coding operation of a pulse transmitter as well as controlling conductors running from the control switch to the responsive magnets as shown in Fig. 7.

Having described my invention I claim:

1. In a selective phonograph controller, a casing, a plurality of reversible title holders horizontally pivoted in parallel spaced relation in said casing, a ratchet wheel, a manually reciprocatable pawl engageable with said ratchet wheel for rotating the latter, a cam rotated by said ratchet wheel, and gear means operatively connected to said title holders and operatable by said cam in the rotation thereof to simultaneously reverse said title holders.

2. A selective controller comprising a plurality of pivoted reversible title holders, manually operatable reciprocating means, transmission means operatively connecting said reciprocating means with all of said title holders for simultaneously reversing the latter, detent means for selectively retaining said transmission means in either of two positions, a pair of independent electrically responsive selecting circuits for controlling phonograph record selections, a control switch operated by said transmission means and having two contact positions corresponding to the two retained positions of said transmission means, said control switch being operatable in the operation of said transmission means to alternately and selectively connect said selecting circuits to a source of electric energy, and a plurality of manually operatable selection switches,

each of said selection switches corresponding to a different one of said title holders and being electrically disposed in both of said selecting circuits and being adapted, upon the closing thereof, to complete the selecting circuit connected by said control switch to said source of electric energy, whereby operation of a particular selection switch will effect one record selection when said control switch is in one of its positions and another when it is in its other position, such records corresponding, respectively, to the titles on the opposite sides of the title holders to which the selection switch corresponds.

3. A selective controller comprising a plurality of pivoted reversible title holders, mechanical means connected to all of said title holders for simultaneously reversing the latter, a pair of independent electrically responsive selecting circuits, each of said circuits having therein a plurality of electrically parallel branches, a control switch operatable by said mechanical means, in th reversal of said title holders, to alternately and selectively connect said selecting circuits to a source of electric energy, and a plurality of selection switches, each of said selection switches corresponding to a different one of said title holders and being electrically disposed in series with one of said branches in each of said circuits, and being adapted, upon the closing thereof, to complete the selecting circuit connected by said control switch to said source of electric energy, whereby operation of a particular selection switch will effect one record selection when said control switch is in one of its positions and another when it is in its other position, such records corresponding, respectively, to the titles on the opposite sides of the title holders to which the selec tion switch corresponds. g

4. In a selective phonograph controller, a casing, a plurality of reversible title holders pivoted in parallel spaced relation in said casing, a ratchet wheel, a manually reciprocatable pawl engageable with said ratchet wheel for rotating the latter, an actuating member movable by said ratchet wheel, and gear means operatively connected to said title holders and operatable by said actuating member in the movement thereof to simultaneously reverse said title holders.

5. In a selective phonograph controller, a casing, a plurality of reversible title holders pivoted in parallel relation in said casing, a push button responsive ratchet means in said casing, transmission means connecting said ratchet means with each of said title holders, electric switch means in said casing operatively related to said transmission means whereby the sequential operation of said push button responsive ratchet means will simultaneously operate said transmission means and said switch means, the operation of said transmission means alternately rotating all said title holders sufliciently to substantially reverse their position, and two series of electrical elements, including push buttons and circuits activated thereby, for selectively initiating the playing of records on the phonograph, the operation of said switch means alternately conditioning the respective series of electrical elements for operation by said push buttons whereby operation of one of said push buttons will eilect one record selection when said switch is in one of its positions and another when it is in its other position.

6. In a selective phonograph controller, a plurality of reversible title holders, a manually operable device for simultaneously reversing said title holders, a plurality of record selection switches, one corresponding to each title holder, a pair of independent electrical circuits for controlling phonograph record selections, each circuit including said selection switches, and a control switch operable by said title holder reversing device and having two positions, one connecting said selection switches with one of said circuits and one connecting said selection switches with the other circuit, whereby each selection switch may activate one or the other of said circuits depending upon the position of saidtitle holders, a complete program change thus being effected upon operation of said reversing device.

7. In a selective phonograph controller, a casing, a plurality of reversible title holders horizontally pivoted in parallel relation in said casing, a push button responsive ratchet means in said casing, transmission means connecting said ratchet means with each of said title holders, detent means in said casing cooperatively related with said transmission means for alternately retaining said transmission means in one of two positions, electric switch means in said casing operatively related with said transmission means whereby the sequential operation of the said push button responsive ratchet means will simultaneouslyovercome the resistanceof said detent means and operate said transmission means and said switch means, the operation of said transmission means alternately rotating all said title holders sufficiently to substantially reverse their position, and two series of electrical elements, including push buttons and circuits activated thereby, for selectively initiating the playing of records on the phonograph, the operation of said electric switch means alternately conditioning the respective series of electrical elements for operation by said push buttons whereby -'dp'erat;ion of one of said push buttons will 'efi'edt one record selection when said switch is in one of its positions and another when-it-isi-n its other positmn.

LLOYD JANDRES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

